Clock with remote alarm control



Oct. 25, 1955 E. J. GORDON CLOCK WITH REMOTE ALARM CONTROL Filed May 2,1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3 H9 INVENTOR. 94 75 EDWARD JOSEPH GORDONATTORN EY E- J. GORDON CLOCK WITH REMOTE ALARM CONTROL Filed May 2, 19522 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EOgeRD JOSEPH GORDON ATTORNEY United StatesPatent "cc CLQCK WITH REMOTE ALARM CONTROL Edward Joseph Gordon,Wickford, R. i. Application May 2, 1952, Serial No. 285,756

3 Claims. (Cl. 161-1) This invention relates to electric clocks and moreparticularly to an alarm for an electric clock which is controlled by aunit remote from-the clock but having electrical coaction with theclock.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an alarm for aclock which is encased and controlled by a unit remote from the clock.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an alarm controlfor an electric alarm clock encased in a housing separate from theclock.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an alarm for anelectric clock which is personal to one person and is controllable bythat individual.

In the past electric clocks have had built in alarm systems which, whenfunctioning, arouse all persons in the room providing a source ofannoyance to later risers. Attempts have been made to obviate thisnuisance in clocks by providing buzzers, chimes, sweet music andpretiming light flashes. Whatever the means employed to overcome thenuisance, the mechanism in the clock itself had to be handled to shutoff the alarm. In addition, lights are ineffectual to a heavy sleeper.

The present invention overcomes these deficiencies while overcoming thenoise of the alarm nuisance to others by providing an alarm, personal tothe user while retaining the use of the clock to others. Particularapplication of the present invention is found in homes with babies,hospitals, hotels, institutions, apartment houses and where one matesleeps later than another.

The in ention is embodied in a unit separate from but controlled by theparent clock. The unit contains the alarm and the alarm controlmechanism.

With these and other objects in View, the invention con sists of certainnovel features of construction which will be more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claii .s.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts in the accompanying drawingsin which:

Figure 1 illustrates an electric clock having electrical connection withthe new remote alarm control unit.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the workings of an electric clockshowing their interconnection with the new alarm and alarm control unit.

Figure 3 is a detail of the alarm control mechanism.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the alarm timingmechanism in the parent clock.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the timing mechanism in the parent clock.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the gear train in theparent clock.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view in section taken along line 7-7 ofFigure 6.

Figure 8 is an electrical diagram of the circuit controlling the clockwith remote alarm control.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of the alarm indicator dial.

70 Figure 10 1s a modified form of the alarm control mechanism.

2,721,511 Patented Oct. 25, 1955 Referring to the drawings, especiallyFigure 1, 10 generally indicates an electric clock. 11 generallyindicates the unit housing the alarm and remote alarm control.

Referring to Figure 2, the mechanism of electric clock 10 consists of aprimary coil 12, having a secondary winding 13, a horizontal core 14,secured to a laminated Ll-shaped core 15 having poles 16 and 17oppositely disposed across armature 18 which has a shaft 19 providedwith a pinion 20. This description is common to an alternating currentinduction motor commonly used in elec tric clocks with the exception ofthe secondary winding 13 which forms part of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, pinion 20 engages spur gear 21 which issecured to one end of a shaft 22 while a second hand 23 is secured tothe other end of shaft 22. Adjacent spur gear 21 and secured to shaft 22is a pinion 24 engaging a spur gear 25 secured to shaft 26 to which issecured a pinion 27 engaging a gear 28 secured to one end of a sleeve3*!) freely and rotatably mounted on shaft 22. Minute hand 31 is securedto the other end of sleeve 30. A pinion 32 adjacent gear 23 is securedto sleeve 39 and engages gear 33 mounted on shaft 34 which also haspinion 35 secured thereto adjacent gear 33. Pinion 35 engages hour gear36 secured to one end of a sleeve 37 freely and rotatably mounted onsleeve 3-9. An hour hand 38 is secured to the other end of sleeve 37.Reference character as indicates the glass face of a clock, while 41indicates the dial of a clock and 42 is part of the housing of a clock.43 is a plate held in spaced relation from housing 42 by means of fourpillows 44. Shafts 19, 22 and 34 are mounted with one end in housing &2and the other end in plate 43. The means for setting the minute and hourhands forms no part of this invention, hence such means is eliminated.What has just been described is merely by way of illustration to showclock mechanisrn.

The heart of the present invention will now be described. A shaft Stl,its opposite ends mounted in housing 42 and plate 43, has a pinion 51secured thereon, engageable with hour gear 36. A shaft 52 has a gear 53secured thereon, engageable with pinion 51. Referring to Figures 2 and5, gear 53 has a gear segment 54 secured in an electrically insulatedhousing 55 fastened to its face 56. An arcuate shaped piece ofelectrically insulated material shown as comprising a base 57 and apinion housing 58 is secured to housing 42. Shafts 60 and 61 mounted inpinion housing 58 and projecting beyond said housing 58 have pinions 62and 63 rotatably mounted thereon, respectively.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4 shaft 52 is solid but is provided with aneck 65 and a knurled knob 66. Neck 65 is rotatably mounted in plate 43.Shaft 52 is mounted for slidable movement in a bearing 67 formed inhousing 42. A coil spring 71 is interposed between housing 42 and gear53. An alarm indicating finger 70 is secured to neck 65 and cooperateswith a twenty-four hour dial 72, illustrated in Figure 9. Depressingknob 66 will force shaft 52 to compress spring 71. Movement of shaft 52will carry gear 53 out of engagement with pinion 51, permitting thechange in the relationship of gear 53 to hour gear 36 through pinion 51,thus setting the alarm. The removal of pressure from knob 66 will permitspring 71 to push shaft 52 hence gear 53 into engagement with pinion 51.Dial 72 as illustrated would be located on the back of the clock or onthe side opposite the face of the clock.

Refer-tin to Figures 1 and 2 wherein 11 generally indicates the unithousing the alarm and remote control unit. A pillow alarm housing ovalin shape consisting of a bottom 75 provided with a ridge 76 is adaptedto be secured to a top 77 provided with a groove (not shown) adapted toengage ridge 76. A conventional commercial Referring to Figures 2 and 3,a bracket is secured to' bottom 75. Pivotally mounted for completefreedom of movement upon bracket 90 is a segment 91. Pinions 92 and 93are rotatably mounted upon shafts 94 and 95 in bracket 90 on either sideof the centerline of segment 91 when it is hanging in a verticalposition. Shafts 94 and 95 project beyond bracket 90 so that electricwires can be secured to them.

Electric clock 10 is provided with a conventional plug outlet secured toone end of a wire cord 101, the

other end of which is secured to primary coil 12 with the positive wireconnected to terminal 102 and the negative wire connected to terminal103. Primary coil 12 is attached to secondary winding 13 in conventionalmanner so that the positive side of the secondary winding 13 isconnected to wire 104 which forms part of cable 105 and connects toshaft 95. The negative side of secondary winding 13 is connected bymeans of covered wire 106 to shaft 60. Shaft 61 is connected by means ofwire 107 which forms part of cable 105. The other end of wire 107 isconnected to terminal 82. A wire 108 connects fixed contact 123 tomagnet coil 121 which is connected to magnet coil by means of bus bar127 which is connected to base plate 81 which has the stationary bracket130 of movable contact 124 secured to it. Movable contact 124 is securedto armature 122 which is integral with terminal 83. A wire 132 connectsterminal 83 to base 89. A wire 133 connects base 89 to shaft 94. Acomplete circuit has thus been described which has mechanism forinterrupting the circuit.

Referring to Figure 10 wherein is shown a modified form of a gearsegment which is illustrative of gear segment 54 and segment 91. It willbe noted that gear teeth are missing from the face so that electricalcontact will be periodically interrupted to sound the alarm in timedsequence. This feature of a periodic alarm can be controlled in gearsegment 54 or in gear segment 91. The interruption is accomplished whenthe gear teeth of the segment fail to engage both pinions at the sametime, thereby closing the electric circuit.

In operation electric clock 10 will be placed on a night stand. Unit 11housing the alarm and the remote control will be placed under thesleepers pillow. Knob 66 will be used to set the alarm for the desiredhour as indicated by finger 70 pointing to the numerals on dial 72. Top77 is provided with finger grooves 138 so that the person may know theremote control is in alarm ringing position. Handle 85 is adjusted torheostat coil 84 for the desired decibels in the buzzer 80. As hour gear36 turns pinion 51 and gear 53 gear segment 54 will engage t pinions 62and 63 thereby closing the circuit and permitting the buzzer to sound.The sleeper will be awakened, reach under the pillow and turn unit 11upside down. By so doing segment 91 will swing away from contactingpinions 92 and 93, thereby breaking the circuit and silencing buzzer 80.

Referring to Figure 3 it can be used as a safety factor in the ignitionsystem of automobiles airplanes, tractors, electric toasters and otherhome appliances by causing a break in the electrical system when thedevice tips over.

Having illustrated and described one embodiment of the presentinvention, by way of example, but realizing that structural changescould be made and other examples given without departing from either thespirit or scope of this invention.

What I claim is:

l. A mechanism comprising a bracket of electrically insulating material,a segment of electrically conductive material having gear teeth in oneface pivotally suspended from said bracket for free oscillation underthe influence of gravity, two pinions of electrically conductivematerial rotatably mounted upon shafts fixed in said bracket on eitherside of the center of the pivotal point of said segment, said shaftshaving means for engaging the positive and negative connection of anelectrical cirzuit, the gear teeth of said segment engaging the teeth ofboth pinions in one position of said segment in its relation to thecenterline between said pinions and being completely disengaged fromsaid pinions when said segment is swung to an extreme position by theaction of gravity.

2. A mechanism for an electrical circuit provided with gravity actuatedmeans comprising a pivotally mounted gear segment, two pinions, eachconnected as a terminal of the electrical circuit, said gear segmentengaging both pinions to close the electrical circuit when in oneposition and disengaging at least one of said pinions to break theelectrical circuit when said gear segment is in an opposite position.

3. A mechanism for an electrical circuit comprising a gear in constantrotation, a gear segment provided with missing teeth secured to saidgear, two pinions rotatably mounted in an insulated housing, saidpinions being part of the electrical circuit, said gear segmentperiodically engaging said pinions, said missing teeth interrupting theperiodic engagement, a remote control unit in the circuit containing asecond gear segment, two additional pinions rotatably mounted in aninsulated bracket, said last mentioned pinions being part of saidelectrical circuit, said second gear segment being pivotally mounted forgravitationally engaging said last mentioned pinions to close saidelectrical circuit when the teeth in said first mentioned gear segmentengage the first mentioned two pinions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS688,886 Schloss Dec. 17, 1901 951,601 Doyle Mar. 8, 1910 952,710 PesceMar. 22, 1910 1,350,693 Barletta Aug. 24, 1920 1,411,298 Osborn Apr. 4,1922 1,563,753 Krone Dec. 1, 1925 1,934,387 Tweedale Nov. 7, 19331,983,645 Soreng Dec. 11, 1934 2,239,160 Newman Apr. 22, 1941 2,396,947Gutteridge Mar. 19, 1946 2,517,368 Wiseley Aug. 1, 1950

